God has revealed His truth in the Bible, but Satan counterfeits and misquotes God to bring confusion. He did this to Eve (Genesis 3:1) and Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). He still does it today (1 Timothy 4:1). The more we are ignorant of the truth of Scripture the easier it is for our enemy to spread his lies and counterfeits. He does not deny God’s truth, but he does twist and misinterpret it. A good counterfeit is more dangerous than an obvious fake. One of the main areas of teaching where this is true is concerning the Holy Spirit. Let’s take a quick look God’s truth that counters some common errors.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON, NOT A FORCE. We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and we are personal, not an impersonal force. Therefore, the God who made us (a very personal, creative act) must be personal as well. Since the Spirit and the Father are equal, then the Spirit is personal as well. As such the Holy Spirit has mind and intellect (John 14:26), emotions and feelings (Ephesians 4:30) and a free will (Acts 13:2).
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PART OF THE TRINITY, THE TRIUME GOD. A large denomination, the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI – 24 million members), or, as they are more popularly known, “Oneness Pentecostals,” deny the doctrine of the tri-unity of God. A dozen smaller Pentecostal denominations do so also. They are exclusively monotheistic, erroneously claiming that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same Person. They deny that there are three Persons in the Godhead, allowing only different modes (thus, “modalism”), or “masks,” of the one Deity. This false doctrine is called “Modalism,” and it is an ancient error, popularized 200 years after Jesus. Modalists today say Jesus is also the Father and the Spirit. Thus, Jesus in His human nature prayed to Himself as God the Father in Gethsemane (John 17). They baptize only in the name of Jesus, not the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The Bible records that the Father is God (John 6:27), the Son is God (Hebrews 1:8; John 10:27-30; 14:8-10; 17:3-5; Philippians 2:5-11) and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26). All three are referred to as equal (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Modalism is a dangerous doctrinal heresy.
RESULTING ERRORS When there is error about the Person of Christ, other errors abound. And so, to modalism has been added the necessity of baptismal regeneration, and the requirement to speak in tongues for salvation, both denying that salvation comes by faith alone. The fear of losing salvation motivates some to put their faith in emotional experiences to give them assurance of salvation. The truth is that salvation can never be lost because believers are eternally sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:30).
THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS ALL EQUALLY FROM THE MOMENT OF SALVATION. It is wrong to think that some have a higher measure of the Spirit or can transfer Him to others. It is just as wrong to think that something must be done after salvation to receive the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit lives in every believer from the moment of salvation (John 7:37-39; 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12:13). This is Jesus’s presence in us by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27). The Holy Spirit is not owned or controlled by any man. He is God Himself, given equally to all who believe (John 14:16–17; Acts 2:38–39).
THE SPIRIT BRINGS SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, NOT GUARENTEED MATERIALISM. It is not true that God’s blessing is seen only in power, health and wealth. Most of God’s followers in the Bible lacked at least one of these. The Bible warns against materialism and never promises health, wealth and power to Christians (Matthew 6:19-21; 13:22; 19:21-24; Luke 6:24-26; 2 Timothy 3:10-12; John 16:33; 1 Timothy 6:9-10). (This topic will be continued in the next blog.)
John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
What difference does it make in your life that the Spirit is a Person and not just a force?
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is an equal Person in the Trinity? How would you show someone this from the Bible?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2026